There is always a lot going on at the APC! There are new discoveries, events and activities, competitions, scientific talks, visits to schools or to the lab, games and quizzes.... and so much more.

If you would like information on a past event, news story or competition, click on the links below or contact: MicrobeMagic@ucc.ie

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My Five Senses Poetry Competition

The Senses by Caoimhe Ring

What would you do without sight
Nothing would ever be bright.
What would you do without touch,
Would a hug mean as much?
What would you do if your couldn’t hear
You wouldn’t know if someone was near
And then if you couldn’t smell
Would food still look so well?
And then at the end we have taste
Don’t you think eating would be a waste?
So now we remember how important our senses are
Let’s treasure them more than ever before

Pictured is Andrea Doolan, APC, presenting Caoimhe with her prize

Congratulationsto Caoimhe Ring, 6th class, Scoil Chlochair Mhuire, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork. Caoimhe received 1st prize of an MP3 player for her poem 'The Senses'. Caoimhe's teacher, Ms O'Connor, received a copy of 'Your Amazing Body', in recognition of her efforts.

In the past few months, scientists from the APC visited over 6,300 5th and 6th class students in Cork city and county. Pupils were informed of the competition and invited to send their poems in. We received a staggering 447 entries.

Thank you to everyone who entered, but unfortunately there can be only one 1st prize. However we have awarded runner up prizes of 'The Gooey, Chewy, Rumble, Plop Book' to the following students. Just click on the name to read the poem.

Science rapper Jonathan Chase was on hand to present the prizes. Jon had challenged students to compose their own rap for the Science Raps Challenge, a new competition organised by the APC for Science Week Ireland 2009.

Two winners were chosen in the category for 17 years and over: David Jackson, a first year UCC biochemistry student, with his rap video entitled “Genesis Lab Rat Rap Irish Hip Hop”and “Spectrometry Rap” from Sean Hassett, Robin Flynn and Conor Conway, of Presentation College Headford, Co. Galway.

In the Under 17 category, first prize was awarded to Karimah Gambo from St Joseph’s College, Lucan for her “Science Raps Challenge” rap. The runner up in this category is Chloe Murphy, a second year student in St Vincent’s Secondary School, Cork for her rap entitled “Electronics”.

Prizes for the competition were generously sponsored by Discover Science and Engineering and Microsoft Ireland.

Young people learn that 'It takes guts' for Science Week

Fifteen hundred primary and secondary pupils from schools throughout Cork city and county attended “It takes Guts” interactive shows in City Hall Cork given by a team from the Science Museum in London as part of Science Week 2009.

This dynamic, educational show looks at food groups, balanced diets and digestion by following the journey of your food into your mouth, through the acid bath in your stomach, along metre after metre of pulsating guts, and then… out the other end. This show, featuring video footage of people's insides, is a squirm-inducing demonstration of the process of digestion.